1 It began with a famine in
Bethlehem burials in Moab, it ends with wedding bells and the birth of a
precious baby
2 It seems that the story should
end at this point instead it concludes with a genealogy
a. Holy Spirit makes no mistake
in closing this book in this fashion
b There are a number of things to
from this genealogical table
c. Our primary consideration will
be focused around this table.
3. Before we get into this genealogy,
I would like for us to consider the prayer of the people for this couple
1. Like Boaz our Jesus who was born
in Bethlehem has became famous
a I love to think about the fame
of Jesus
b. Did you ever ask yourself what
makes Jesus famous among Christians’
c It certainly isn't the number
of Christians he goes around patting on the back saying; Well done
d That doesn't make Him famous
because He really can’t find any good Christians to pat on back
2 As God counts Christians we are
all utterly short weight
a What has made Him famous are
the sinners He has saved failing saints lie has restored, messed up
situations he has righted
b In the Gospels we have that
phrase "the fame of Jesus" a number of times
c But it was not the
wealthy people He dinner with, or the great people He
consorted with that made Him famous
When sending His message
to John the Baptist in prison, He told Him wherein His fame consisted;
‘The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are
cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up. and the poor have
the
Gospel preached them" A pretty motley crew, But it was
there that Jesus got His fame. And today He is just the same in a moral and
spiritual way, and He is justly famous for it. Did you know He gets
fame out of meeting your dire need?
A. There are just ten names in this brief genealogy
1. The list begins with Pharez and ends with David
a The truth is that this list begins with a illegitimate son and ends
with a great king
b The story is one of Grace and Justice
2 To illustrate the justice of God: David was the first man in Israel who
had the right to sit on Israel's throne through the kingly line of Judah
a. David was a descendant of Pharez the illegitimate some of Judah We
have the sordid record in Gen: 38
b. Tamar the widow disguised herself as a harlot and enticed her own
father in law to be father of her child
c. The product of this union was a set of twins Zarah and Pharez *
d. We have to focus our attention on this or man Pharez
e. After Pharez we have nine names no more no less
f. David is the tenth name mentioned
3. Believing verbal inspiration of Bible we look for the reason behind
the strange closing of Ruth
a. We have the answer given in Deut 23:2
b. No child born out of wedlock shall be admitted into the congregation
until the tenth generation
c. The reference to entering the congregation had reference to the
royal line. It did not mean he was a social outcast
d. Ancient rabbi interpreted this to mean that no descendant of a
bastard could sit on throne until the tenth generation
4 When Israel under Samuel demanded a king, God could not according to
His word give them a legitimate king from royal tribe of Judah
a. Jesse who was then in line was only the ninth
b. David was the tenth but was either not yet born or too young to sit
on the throne
c. Until David was ready God could not raise up a king nor honor the
request of Israel for a king from the tribe of Judah
d. Because of the peoples demand God gave the them a king but it is
from the tribe of Benjamin
e. However Israel choice for king was rejected by the Lord when David
is ready for the throne
B. Israel demands a King (I Sam 8:5-6)
1. There was noting wrong in Israel desiring king
a. However the king not Israel
b. When Israel demanded a king. God's not ready
c. Listen to God's answer (I Sam 8:7)
d. Samuel proceeds to tell them of the disaster that Saul will bring on
them (I Sam, 89-l7)
A. We must learn to submit our will to His
l. How prone we are to demand things of God
a. We want God to answer according to our plan and desire
b. Do your prayers seem to go unanswered
c. Remember there is a purpose for the de lay
d Whatever happens, it is best for us
2. It is better to suffer in will of God than have our way
Dr. De Hehn statement:
Many years ago I was called to visit a heartbroken mother who told me
the following sad and tragic story. Never did I behold greater grief. This
mother said to me, "For several years after our marriage we had no
children. We besought the Lord to give us a child, and He answered with a
baby girl. When the child was two years old, she contracted pneumonia and
we were told by the doctors there was no hope. In agony and despair I
rebelled against God, and said, ‘Oh, God, you can’t do
this to us. You can’t be so cruel as to take this child away. I cannot
— I will not give her up. You must restore her or I’ll lose all faith
and will never trust Thee again.’ Well, the child recovered
miraculously, and grew to be a young lady, but got into bad company, sank
deep into sin, and one night was picked up by the police in a dark alley,
and taken to jail for an unspeakable act. The next morning as the jailor
came to her cell, he found her strangled by a rope made of her torn
clothing - a suicide.
"I never forget the agony of that mother. Said she, “Oh, doctor,
if I had only buried her when an infant, when I demanded my own way. Her
death then would have been a thousand times easier than this. Oh,
God forgive me, forgive me for my willful, selfish demand.” God granted
her request. but what a hard way to learn to pray ‘not my will,
but Thine be done”!
3. I close with one verse to illustrate my point (Psalms 106:15)
a. God gave them their request but sent leanness into their soul
b. How we need to learn the lesson of trust and faith and be able to
say like Jesus~ “Not my will Thine be done’
c. Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit
the keeping of their souls to Him , as unto a faithful creator (I Peter
4:19).